The newest issue of Baseball America includes the mag's annual survey of "the game's outstanding individual skills." American League managers recognized Thome for his power (number 2 behind Big Sloppy), Jenks for his heat (number 3 behind Zumaya and Zoolander), Buehrle for his pickoff move (number 2 behind The Gambler), and the Gooch's defense at second base (number 2 behind Minny's Castillo).

The only thing more shocking to me than kudos for Tad's defense (the arm is there and he has flair for the dramatic, but sometimes the range is just bad) was the absence of Joe Crede's name from the top 3 defensive third basemen in the American League. I'll admit that Joey has booted some routine plays this season, but he saved a ton of runs with diving stops and strong throws both to his left and right.

I simply cannot accept that Boston's Mike Lowell, Oakland's Eric Chavez, and DETROIT'S BRANDON INGE (?!?) are all better defensive third basemen than Joe Crede right now. Maybe the Sox are actually turing into baseball's version of the Raiders.